Electric switch with terminal assembly especially adapted for connection to printed circuits



June 18, 1957 2,796,498 IALLY A. M. DAILY ETAL. H WITH TERMINAL ASSE ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO PRINTE MBLY ESPEC D CIRCUITS ELECTRIC SWITC Filed larch l9, l956- b Jmdmfms ATE, ZLur MDa'LZy ayna AJEardsn 21 an! 19 773979? H 0/ .AJ B

w w r v 4|||| F 4 B y 0 lw z (1B United States Patent M ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH TERMINAL ASSEMBLY ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO PRINTED CIRCUITS Arthur M. Daily, Edwardsburg, Mich., and Wayne A. Bardeu, Elkhart, 11111., assignors to Chicago Telephone Supply Corporation, Elkhart, 11111., a corporation of Indiana Application March 19, 1956, Serial No. 572,323

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-166) This invention relates to electric switches of the type used in radio and television receivers and generally mounted on the back of a variable resistor to be operable by the control shaft of the resistor, as in the combination control of the copending application Serial No. 403,401, filed January 11, 1954, by Mervin B. Arisman to which the present invention is closely related.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive way of adapting such a switch for convenient connection into a printed circuit.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive terminal assembly securable to the back of the switch, which not only adapts the switch to easy and quick connection into a printed circuit, without necessitating any change in the switch from the design and construction found desirable through years of experience, but in addition is so constructed that it suitably insulates the terminals by which the switch is connected in the printed circuit from the metal cover or housing of the switch.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiments of the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof and in which:

Figure l is a side view of a combined resistor and switch having the terminal assembly of this invention incorporated therein and showing the control mounted on a printed circuit panel;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the thus mounted control; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the terminal assembly per se shown detached from the switch, but illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 5 designates generally a combination control consisting of a variable resistor 6 and an electric switch 7 arranged in tandem with the switch mounted on the back of the resistor so that both components are operable by a common control shaft 8. The control is adapted to be mounted upon a supporting panel 9 on which the various circuit leads 10 are printed. The mounting of the control upon the panel 9 is elfected primarily by means of a bracket 11 fixed to the front of the resistor 6 and provided with spaced apart legs 12 which embrace the control and have a plug in or snap in engagement with the panel 9. The copending application, Serial No. 403,401, filed January 11, 1954, by Mervin B. Arisman describes this mounting bracket in greater de- 2,796,498 Patented June 18, 1957 tail. It should be noted that in the mounting of the control the terminals 13 (only two of which are shown) of the variable resistor protrude through the mounting panel 9 to be connected to their respective leads of the printed circuit.

The instrumentalities of the resistor and also of the switch form no part of this invention and therefore have not been illustrated. It is sutficient to observe that the switch is contained within a housing comprising a fiat end wall 14 of insulating material and a cylindrical metal side wall 15 having an inturned flange 16 overlying the outer rear face of the end wall 14. The stationary contacts 17 of the switch are mounted on the inner face of the end wall 14 and have terminal extensions 18 projecting rearwardly through and beyond the end wall 14. The switch may be of the type forming the subject matter of Patent No. 2,660,634, issued November 24, 1953, and if it is of the double pole single throw type, there are of course, four stationary switch contacts, and hence four terminal extensions 18.

Flatwise overlying the rear end wall 14 is the terminal assembly of this invention indicated generally by the numeral 19. This terminal assembly comprises a plate of insulating material 20 of a size to cover the entire rear face of the switch and preferably has an inverted U shape so as to have a round upper end and a straight bottom edge 21. The height of the plate is approximately one and one-half times the diameter of the switch housing and its width is substantially equal to the diameter of the switch housing.

Projecting from the bottom edge 21 of the plate 20 is a row of equispaced teeth 22. These teeth are integral with the plate and all project substantially the same distance from the edge 21. A corresponding number of slots or oblong shaped holes 23 is formed in the portion of the plate 20 which overlies the rear wall 14 of the switch. These holes are so located and disposed that they align with the terminal extensions 18, and when the terminal assembly is in position on the switch, the terminal extensions pass through the holes 23. Since there are four terminal extensions 18, there are four holes 23 and four teeth 22, the holes and teeth being paired.

Each hole 23 is connected with its tooth 22 by a conductor path 24, which may be formed by spraying metal onto the back of the plate 20 (as in Figures 1 and 2) or it may be a strip of thin sheet metal or foil suitably adhered to the back of the plate 20 (as in Figure 3). In either case, the conductor path extends out over its respective tooth or prong 22 to be contiguous to one of the printed leads 10 on the panel 9 when the control is mounted on the panel with the edge 21 of the plate 20 contiguous to the panel and the teeth 22 protruding through holes in the panel. Also, in either case, the other end portion of the conductor path is enlarged to surround its respective hole 23 in the plate, so that it may be readily soldered to the terminal extension protruding through the hole 23 to provide a good electrical connection 25 between the extension and the conductor path and also secure the terminal assembly to the switch.

Where the conductor paths are sprayed on, it is of course essential that the surface of the plate 20 be properly prepared to receive and have the sprayed metal adhere thereto, and also, that suitable means be employed to assure that the conductor path will cover only the intended area of the plate.

It will be seen that the terminal assembly of this invention coacts with the mounting bracket 11 to properly position the control on the mounting panel, and also that when the control is mounted on the panel the connection of its various terminals to their respective leads printed on the panel, may be easily and quickly elfected ii by any one of the several techniques developed for this purpose.

What is claimed as our invention is:

1. An electric switch having a housing comprising a flat end wall of insulating material and a metal side wall provided with an inturned flange overlying the outer face of the marginal portion of the end Wall, and having contacts mounted on the inner face of the end wall with terminal extensions projecting through the end wall, characterized by a terminal assembly to facilitate connecting the switch into a circuit printed on a mounting panel, said terminal assembly comprising: a plate of insulating material flatwise overlying the outer face of said end wall and the intu'rne'd flange with a portion of the plate projecting beyond the side Wall of the switch housing and having an edge remote from the side Wall positionable adjacent to the printed circuit panel, said plate having holes in line with the terminal extensions of the contacts and through which said extensions pass; a row of teeth integral with the plate and extending from said edge of the plate to enter holes in the panel when the switch is imposition on the panel, there being one tooth for each of said holes; a metal conductor path leading from each of said holes, across the rear face of the plate and along the rear face of one of said teeth; and a soldered connection between each terminal extension and the conductor path which leads from the hole in the plate in which the terminal extension is received so that each terminal extension is electrically connected with one of the teeth.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that said conductor paths consist of metal sprayed onto the plate.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that said conductor paths are strips of thin sheet metal adhered to the plate.

Jacobi Dec. 9, 1930 Sargrove July 5, 1949 

